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Valued Contributor
Posts: 939
Registered: ‎03-28-2010

Recipe for pot luck dinner at work

Does anyone have a great recipe for me to take to work that i can make the day before, that is ok to sit in the fridge overnight and won't be too much work to make since I'll be doing a full week's workload and going to school part time as well. I have plenty of Pyrex glass baking dishes. I have an instant pot, slow cooker. I live in Georgia so comfort foods are always welcome 😁.
Does anyone have any recipes to recommend? I can't think of anything! I only cook for two so we usually just cook whatever, no real time spent in the kitchen prepping and experimenting with dishes. I just never have anyone to cook for except at the holidays. Thank you in advance!
Honored Contributor
Posts: 31,435
Registered: ‎03-10-2010

Re: Recipe for pot luck dinner at work


@Midmod wrote:
Does anyone have a great recipe for me to take to work that i can make the day before, that is ok to sit in the fridge overnight and won't be too much work to make since I'll be doing a full week's workload and going to school part time as well. I have plenty of Pyrex glass baking dishes. I have an instant pot, slow cooker. I live in Georgia so comfort foods are always welcome 😁.
Does anyone have any recipes to recommend? I can't think of anything! I only cook for two so we usually just cook whatever, no real time spent in the kitchen prepping and experimenting with dishes. I just never have anyone to cook for except at the holidays. Thank you in advance!

@Midmod My all time favorite casserold is King Ranch Casserole! You can make it NOT spicy by using regular tomatoes in a can drained a little.  You can use the lower fat soups and more chicken too.  I just love this stuff and it would be a real treat to me!  Take a jar of salsa if people want that on top.

 

You could assemble it in the crock pot liner and heat up at work I think.  Or if you have a microwave use a dish that will fit in, bake at home and rewarm at work.

 

We bet that after one taste of this rich, creamy King Ranch casserole recipe, you'll be hooked too. It also travels well, making it a great choice to take to a covered-dish dinner.

How to Make It
Step 1

Sauté onion and bell pepper in hot oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat 5 minutes or until tender. Stir in chicken and next 7 ingredients; remove from heat.

Step 2

Tear tortillas into 1-inch pieces; layer one-third of tortilla pieces in bottom of a lightly greased 13- x 9-inch baking dish. Top with one-third of chicken mixture and 2/3 cup cheese. Repeat layers twice.

Step 3

Bake at 350° for 30 to 35 minutes.

Step 4

Note: Freeze casserole up to 1 month, if desired. Thaw in refrigerator overnight, and bake as directed.

Honored Contributor
Posts: 31,435
Registered: ‎03-10-2010

Re: Recipe for pot luck dinner at work

@Midmod I usually use a grocery store chicken for the chicken.  If you do that, it's just a little prep work and you're done!  

 

 

Respected Contributor
Posts: 2,928
Registered: ‎12-14-2018

Re: Recipe for pot luck dinner at work

Yes, that’s a good one and everybody loves it.

Respected Contributor
Posts: 4,911
Registered: ‎09-12-2010

Re: Recipe for pot luck dinner at work

[ Edited ]

I'm retired, but participated in quite a few food days (pot luck) at work over the years. I found that people always like the litle smokies in a crock pot: 2 packages of little smokies, 1 can of whole cranberries, 1 cup of Country Bob's Sauce (or barbeque sauce). Meatballs in the same sauce are also good. Quick, easy and tastes really good. Put everything in a crock pot before you leave for work and turn it on low when you get to work.

 

A simple and quick dessert like a cherry dump cake along with a can of Redi-Whip was always popular too; 1 20-oz can crushed pineapple undrained, 1 21-oz can cherry pie filling, 1 yellow cake mix, 1 stick butter, 1 cup chopped nuts (optional). Pour pineapple in 9x13 pan; add cherry pie filling on top, sprinkle dry cake mix on top of fruit, add optional nuts, slice the butter into 1" pieces and scatter on top of the cake make; bake at 350 for 50 minutes. Serve warm or room temperature with cans of Redi-Whip. You could make this the evening before and let it sit on your counter top until you go to work.

 

I'm sure you'll get a lot of good ideas here....there are a lot better cooks than me, but I've found both of these work well for your get-together.

 

Edited: The crushed pineapple in the dump cake should NOT be drained. I just noticed that and made the change. Sorry about that.

Honored Contributor
Posts: 67,311
Registered: ‎03-10-2010

ouRe: Recipe for pot luck dinner at work

[ Edited ]

This recipe served me through 32 years of office pot luck luncheons.  Its inexpensive and quick and easy to make.  You can whip it together in 5 minutes.  I always served it in a pretty glass bowl.  There was never, in all those years, even a smidgen left at the end of the day.  Nobody knows what's in it.

 

Orange Dump Salad

 

1 (16 oz) carton cottage cheese, drained 

1 3 oz pkg. orange gelatin

1 15 oz can crush pineapple, drained

1 11 oz can Mandaran oranges, drained

1 4 1/2 oz carton Cool Whip

 

Spoon cottage cheese into large bowl.  Mix in gelatin. Add drained fruits and mix well.  Fold in Cool Whip.  Chill well.  Keeps well in fridge for 3 - 4 days, if you can leave it alone.  Makes 6 - 8 servings.

 

Original recipe from

Houston Chronicle

 

 

 

New Mexico☀️Land Of Enchantment
Honored Contributor
Posts: 30,218
Registered: ‎03-12-2010

Re: Recipe for pot luck dinner at work

If you make those cream cheese (some call them 'blonde' brownies....you'll be a big hit.

 

I made them for my daughter when she was visiting from Denver in August.

 

She kept saying, "Mom, I shouldn't be eating these" (as she's shoving another into her mouth!).

 

I made a double batch in one of those pyrex large containers (David was showing it (lock and lock) yesterday).

 

It comes with a lid.  You put the cream cheese in the middle of the brownie mix, put the other 1/2 over the cream cheese, swirl it good (so it doesn't separate) and it's amazing.

 

I top off the brownies with vanilla frosting.

 

It's pure chocolate and sweet.  It's just enough to satisfy after a meal.

 

They are very sweet, but amazing!

Valued Contributor
Posts: 939
Registered: ‎03-28-2010

Re: Recipe for pot luck dinner at work

I can take my slow cooker to work. Some other ladies do that. We have a breakroom with counter tops coolers and a freezer
Valued Contributor
Posts: 939
Registered: ‎03-28-2010

Re: Recipe for pot luck dinner at work

The dump cake sounds quick easy and delish
Respected Contributor
Posts: 4,911
Registered: ‎09-12-2010

Re: Recipe for pot luck dinner at work

@Midmod, the dump cake is good, especially with the Redi Whip that people can use with it. If you use this recipe, please note that the crushed pineapple should not be drained. I made the change to the recipe. With your busy schedule, I can see why you want some quick and easy!